Hannah Logan
Clay Jarvis
A Canada PRO deposit in your bank account means you’ve received a child and family benefit payment from your province, via the Canada Revenue Agency.
The CRA makes these payments to certain Canadians living in the provinces of Alberta and Ontario, often by direct deposit. Your eligibility depends on your financial circumstances and where you live.
How does Canada PRO deposit work?
Canada PRO is a government program that helps disperse tax credit and benefit program monies to eligible residents of Ontario and Alberta. Canada PRO deposits are made by the CRA on behalf of those provinces.
You have to meet certain income and residency criteria to be eligible for benefits from these annual entitlement programs. Benefits are distributed either monthly or as a lump sum, and are not taxable.
Canada PRO deposit programs in Ontario
The Ontario government offers three PRO programs that are combined in what is known as the Ontario Trillium Benefit to help pay for energy costs, and sales and property taxes.
Northern Ontario Energy Credit
The NOEC helps qualified individuals living in northern Ontario with the higher costs of energy common to that part of the country.
NOEC eligibility requirements
To qualify for the 2023 benefit year, you must be a resident of Northern Ontario and meet one of the following criteria:
- Be 18 years of age or older before June 1, 2024.
- Have or previously had a spouse or common-law partner on or before December 31, 2022.
- Be a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.
Note that your eligibility also depends on whether you lived in Northern Ontario on the 1st of each month.
In addition, in 2022, you met at least one of the following conditions:
- Rented or paid property tax for your main residence.
- Lived on a reserve and paid your home energy costs.
- Lived in a public long-term care home and paid for a portion of your accommodation.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
The OEPTC helps qualifying individuals cover some of the costs of property taxes and the sales taxes charged on home energy expenses.
OEPTC eligibility requirements
To qualify for the 2023 benefit year, you must be a resident of Ontario on December 31, 2022 and at least one of the following must apply:
- Be 18 years of age or older before June 1, 2024.
- Currently or previously married or in a common-law relationship on or before December 31, 2022.
- Be a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.
In addition, in 2022, you met at least one of the following criteria:
- Paid property tax for your main residence.
- Rent for your principal residence, which was subject to property tax, was paid by or for you.
- Lived on a reserve and paid your home energy costs or lived in a public long-term care home and paid for a portion of your accommodation (to be eligible for the energy component).
- Note that to be eligible for the property tax component you must also have lived in a designated Ontario university, college, or private school residence.
Note that your eligibility also depends on whether you lived in Ontario on the 1st of each month.
Ontario Sales Tax Credit
The OSTC helps qualifying individuals recoup some of the sales tax they pay.
OSTC eligibility requirements
To qualify for the 2023 benefit year, you must be an Ontario resident at some time before June 1, 2024 plus meet one of the following criteria:
- Be 19 years of age or older.
- Currently or previously married or in a common-law relationship.
- Be a parent who lives or previously lived with your child.
Maximum Canada PRO deposit for the Ontario Trillium Benefit
Each tax credit program in the OTB has a maximum payment amount that varies by age and where you live. To see maximum payment amounts, visit the Ontario Trillium Benefit page on the Government of Ontario’s website.
Canada PRO deposit programs in Alberta
Alberta Child and Family Benefit
This program offers financial help to eligible Alberta families who have children under the age of 18.
Alberta Child and Family Benefit eligibility requirements
To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of Alberta.
- Be a parent of one or more children under the age of 18.
- Meet certain income criteria.
- File a tax return.
Maximum Canada PRO deposit for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit
The maximum payment amount for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit program varies by number of children and family income. To see maximum payment amounts, visit the Child and Family Benefit page on the Government of Alberta’s website.
Canada PRO Deposit dates
With the Ontario Trillium Benefit, the annual amount is typically divided by 12 and the payments issued monthly. However, if you’re owed more than $360, you will receive a single payment made in June. Anything under this amount is issued in a single payment made in July.
If you choose monthly payments, payment occurs on the 10th day of every month in most circumstances. However, if the 10th day of the month falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, then the Ontario Trillium Benefit is issued on the last working day before the 10th.
The Alberta Child and Family Benefit is paid in quarterly instalments throughout the year. You can expect to receive payment in the last week of:
- February.
- May.
- August.
- November.
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